Community helped after boy's death

[WolfMan]

Wonderful letter about the recent tragic death of Peter Munck in today's paper:

 

Community helped after boy's death

 

By the time we had been contacted to coordinate funeral services for Peter Munck, by his family, the community was already in mourning with the news of Peter's tragic death.

 

It is never easy to conduct services for a young person, but as any funeral director will tell you, we must always be prepared to serve in times of such loss. What we were not prepared for was the almost immediate response from the school community and several area businesses with whom we regularly work.

 

Joseph Stoner, superintendent of Maine-Endwell Schools, contacted us and offered his help. He was instrumental in providing counseling services for students, the use of the senior high school for Peter's service, and coordinated with M&T Bank to establish a memorial fund in Peter's name.

 

Within a very short period of time, we had also received phone calls from the Schuylkill Haven Casket Co., Binghamton Burial Vault Co., Angeline's Florist, Riverhurst Cemetery, Endicott Artistic Memorial Co. and the Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin, all of whom, upon hearing of Peter's death, wanted to join us in providing services to the Munck family at no cost.

 

We are also grateful to the Rev. Stavros, who offered prayers at the funeral home, the Rev. Father Michael Kleban, who conducted the interment service at the cemetery, and the administrators and teachers who took part in the Peter's memorial service.

 

We also wish to thank Peter's fellow students at the junior high school, who created a memory wall where Peter's picture is surrounded by thoughts, prayers and special memories.

 

Nothing can bring Peter back to his family, his friends or his classmates. The weeks and months ahead will be difficult for them, and we should all remember them in our prayers. For our part, we are very grateful to live and work in a community that responds to such a profound loss with such an outpouring of compassion.

 

Thank you all.

 

Chris Putrino